Resposta inflamatória peritoneal de asininos (Equus asinus) submetidos à ovariectomia por laparotomia e laparoscopia / Peritoneal inflammatory response of the donkeys (Equus asinus) submitted ovariectomy by laparotomy and laparoscopy

Objetivou-se avaliar resposta inflamatória e concentrações de proteínas em líquido peritonealde asininas submetidas à ovariectomia por laparotomia e laparoscopia. Foram utilizadas 18 fêmeas adultas, pesando em média 100kg, as quais foram divididas em dois grupos, de nove animais cada: o grupo I, em que foram ovariectomizadas por laparotomia, e o grupo II por laparoscopia. Após as cirurgias, em ambos os grupos foram avaliadas as seguintes variáveis no líquido peritoneal: pH, densidade, número de hemácias, leucócitos e proteínas de fase aguda (fibrinogênio, haptoglobina, albumina, antitripsina, alfa-1 glicoproteína ácida, ceruloplasmina, transferrina, imunoglobulinas A e G). Todas as variáveis foram analisadas antes das cirurgias, 12, 24, 48, 72 horas, oito e 16 dias após os procedimentos cirúrgicos. O número de hemácias e leucócitos aumentou 24 horas depois das cirurgias nos dois grupos. Haptoglobina, alfa-1 glicoproteína ácida,albumina, transferrina, gamaglobulinas A, G e proteínas totais aumentaram nos dois grupos. As concentrações de ceruloplasmina não variaram enquanto a antitripsina não foi detectada no líquido peritoneal de asininos.Foi identificada uma proteína com23.000kD, que não tem denominação nem descrição no líquido peritoneal de asininos.(AU)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the inflammatory response and protein concentrations in the peritoneal fluid of donkeys submitted to laparotomy and laparoscopic ovariectomy. Eighteen adult females, weighing on average 100kg, were divided into two groups, of 09 animals each, where in group I, they were ovariectomized by laparotomy and group II by laparoscopy. Following the surgeries, the following variables were evaluated in the peritoneal fluid: pH, density, number of red cells, leukocytes and acute phase proteins (fibrinogen, haptoglobin, albumin, antitrypsin, alpha-1 acid glycoprotein, ceruloplasmin, transferrin, Immunoglobulins A and G). All variables were analyzed before the surgeries, 12, 24, 48, 72 hours, 8 and 16 days after the surgical procedures. The number of red cells and leukocytes increased 24 hours after the surgeries in both groups. Haptoglobin, alpha-1 acid glycoprotein, albumin, transferrin, gammaglobulins A and G, and total proteins increased in both groups. Concentrations of ceruloplasmin did not change while antitrypsin was not detected in the asinine peritoneal fluid. A protein of 23,000kD, which has no name or description in the peritoneal liquid of donkeys, has been identified.(AU)

Quantification of Treg cells in peripheral blood and lymph nodes of dogs with multicentric lymphoma / Quantificação de células Treg no sangue periférico e linfonodos de cães com linfoma multicêntrico

Lymphoma is a malignant tumor characterized by cell proliferation of lymphoid origin and corresponds to 90% of all hematopoietic neoplasms of dogs. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) have been the target of many investigations in oncology due to their potential of down-regulating immune responses, as well as ensuring the maintenance of active mechanisms of tumor suppression. The aims of the present study were to compare the percentage of Tregs in peripheral blood between dogs with multicentric lymphoma and healthy animals, together with the percentage of Tregs in peripheral blood and lymph nodes of dogs with multicentric lymphoma. Twenty-six animals were enrolled in the study: 10 healthy dogs comprised the control group (CG) and 16 dogs with multicentric lymphoma comprised the Lymphoma Group (LG). We observed that dogs in the LG showed a significantly higher Tregs expression in peripheral blood compared to the CG. No significant difference was observed between Tregs expression in lymph nodes and peripheral blood of the LG, however. With these results, it is possible to conclude that multicentric lymphoma is a neoplasm with high Tregs expression, which poses this as a condition of interest when investigating treatments that can suppress Regulatory T cells.(AU)

O linfoma é uma neoplasia maligna caracterizada pela proliferação neoplásica de células originadas de tecido linfoide e corresponde a cerca de 90% das neoplasias hematopoiéticas em cães. Células T reguladoras (Tregs) têm sido alvo de diversas investigações na área da oncologia devido ao potencial de regulação negativa da resposta do sistema imune e à manutenção ativa do mecanismo de imunossupressão tumoral. O objetivo do presente estudo foi a comparação da porcentagem de Tregs no sangue periférico entre cães com linfoma multicêntrico e animais saudáveis e a porcentagem de Tregs no sangue periférico e nos linfonodos de cães com linfoma multicêntrico. Foram utilizados 26 animais: 10 cães saudáveis, como grupo controle (CG), e 16 cães com linfoma multicêntrico, como grupo linfoma (LG). Observou-se maior expressão de Tregs no sangue periférico de cães do LG em comparação ao CG. Entretanto, não foi observada diferença significativa entre as expressões de Treg nos linfonodos e no sangue periférico do LG. Com esses resultados, foi possível concluir que o linfoma multicêntrico apresenta alta expressão de Tregs, tornando-se condição interessante para o estudo de tratamentos capazes de suprimir as células T reguladoras.(AU)

Serum levels of proteins and acute-phase proteins in captive emus (Dromaius novaehllandieae) of different ages / Teores séricos de proteínas, inclusive proteínas de fase aguda, em emus (Dromaius novaehollandiae) de diferentes faixas etárias e criados em cativeiro

Protein electrophoresis is a relatively simple technique that allows separating serum protein fractions, and provides important information in the investigation and diagnosis of several diseases. This study determined the levels of acute-phase proteins in the serum of healthy, captive emus (Dromaius novaehollandiae). Animals were divided into two groups (n=11 in each) based on age, with 1-year-old and 4-year-old emus. Acute-phase proteins were separated by SDS-PAGE. Ceruloplasmin, transferrin, albumin, haptoglobin, acidic glycoprotein, IgA, and IgG were detected in the serum of all animals. Protein profiles varied significantly with age (P<0.05). Individuals in the 4-year-old emus group had higher values of ceruloplasmin, transferrin, albumin, haptoglobin, and acidic glycoprotein, compared with the group with 1-year-old animals, showing the role of age in the protein profile of this species. Reference values for acute-phase proteins in healthy emus may be useful in the evaluation of health status and in the diagnosis of diseases affecting the species.(AU)

A eletroforese de proteínas é um método relativamente simples, que permite a separação das proteínas do plasma em frações. Sua interpretação fornece informações importantes para a investigação e o diagnóstico de inúmeras doenças. O objetivo deste estudo foi o de determinar a concentração das proteínas de fase aguda no soro de emus (Dromaius novaehollandiae) hígidos e criados em cativeiro. As aves foram separadas em dois grupos: grupo 1: (n=11), aves com um ano de idade; grupo 2: (n=11), aves com quatro anos de idade. As proteínas de fase aguda foram separadas por eletroforese em gel de poliacrilamida (SDS-PAGE). Identificaram-se as proteínas ceruloplasmina, transferrina, albumina, IgG, haptoglobina, glicoproteína ácida, IgA e IgG no soro de todos os emus. Houve diferença (P<0.05) entre os traçados eletroforéticos em função da faixa etária. As aves do grupo 2 apresentaram valores superiores de ceruloplasmina, transferrina, albumina, haptoglobina e glicoproteína ácida quando comparadas às aves do grupo 1. Conclui-se que o perfil eletroforético de emus sofre alterações conforme a idade analisada. O estabelecimento de valores de referência para as proteínas de fase aguda de emus hígidos poderá auxiliar estudos futuros na avaliação da saúde assim como no diagnóstico de doenças em emus.(AU)

Increased expression of ID2, PRELP and SMOC2 genes in patients with endometriosis

Endometriosis is a benign, estrogen-dependent disease with symptoms such as pelvic pain and infertility, and it is characterized by the ectopic distribution of endometrial tissue. The expression of the ID2, PRELP and SMOC2 genes was compared between the endometrium of women without endometriosis in the proliferative phase of their menstrual cycle and the eutopic and ectopic endometrium of women with endometriosis in the proliferative phase. Paired tissue samples from 20 women were analyzed: 10 from endometrial and peritoneal endometriotic lesions and 10 from endometrial and ovarian endometriotic lesions. As controls, 16 endometrium samples were collected from women without endometriosis in the proliferative phase of menstrual cycle. Analysis was performed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). There was no significant difference between gene expression in the endometrium of women with and without endometriosis. The ID2 gene expression was increased in the most advanced stage of endometriosis and in ovarian endometriomas, the PRELP was more expressed in peritoneal lesions, and the SMOC2 was highly expressed in both peritoneal and endometrioma lesions. Considering that the genes studied participate either directly or indirectly in cellular processes that can lead to cell migration, angiogenesis, and inappropriate invasion, it is possible that the deregulation of these genes caused the development and maintenance of ectopic tissue.

Reduction of blood nitric oxide levels is associated with clinical improvement of the chronic pelvic pain related to endometriosis

The objective of this prospective study was to determine the plasma levels of nitric oxide (NO) in women with chronic pelvic pain secondary to endometriosis (n=24) and abdominal myofascial pain syndrome (n=16). NO levels were measured in plasma collected before and 1 month after treatment. Pretreatment NO levels (μM) were lower in healthy volunteers (47.0±12.7) than in women with myofascial pain (64.2±5.0, P=0.01) or endometriosis (99.5±12.9, P<0.0001). After treatment, plasma NO levels were reduced only in the endometriosis group (99.5±12.9 vs 61.6±5.9, P=0.002). A correlation between reduction of pain intensity and reduction of NO level was observed in the endometriosis group [correlation = 0.67 (95%CI = 0.35 to 0.85), P<0.0001]. Reduction of NO levels was associated with an increase of pain threshold in this group [correlation = -0.53 (-0.78 to -0.14), P<0.0001]. NO levels appeared elevated in women with chronic pelvic pain diagnosed as secondary to endometriosis, and were directly associated with reduction in pain intensity and increase in pain threshold after treatment. Further studies are needed to investigate the role of NO in the pathophysiology of pain in women with endometriosis and its eventual association with central sensitization.

Prevalence and conditions associated with chronic pelvic pain in women from São Luís, Brazil

The objective of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of chronic pelvic pain in the community of São Luís, capital of the State of Maranhão, Northeastern Brazil, and to identify independent conditions associated with it. A cross-sectional study was conducted, including a sample of 1470 women older than 14 years predominantly served by the public health system. The interviews were held in the subject's home by trained interviewers not affiliated with the public health services of the municipality. The homes were visited at random according to the city map and the prevalence of the condition was estimated. To identify the associated conditions, the significant variables (P=0.10) were selected and entered in a multivariate analysis model. Data are reported as odds ratio and 95% confidence interval, with the level of significance set at 0.05. The prevalence of chronic pelvic pain was 19.0%. The independent conditions associated with this diagnosis were: dyspareunia (OR=3.94), premenopausal status (OR=2.95), depressive symptoms (OR=2.33), dysmenorrhea (OR=1.77), smoking (OR=1.72), irregular menstrual flow (OR=1.62), and irritative bladder symptoms (OR=1.90). The prevalence of chronic pelvic pain in Sao Luís is high and is associated with the conditions cited above. Guidelines based on prevention and/or early identification of risk factors may reduce the prevalence of chronic pelvic pain in São Luís, Brazil.

Establishment of peritoneal liquid electrophoretogram from healthy horses and horses submitted to experimentally induced intestinal obstruction / Estabelecimento do eletroforetograma do líquido peritoneal de equinos hígidos e daqueles submetidos à obstrução intestinal experimental

The initial inflammatory stages of the colic syndrome include changes known as acute phase response. The aim of this study was to contribute with the establishment of reference values concerning the electrophoretogram of peritoneal liquid from healthy horses and horses submitted to experimentally induced intestinal obstruction. Twenty-one horses were allotted in four groups: duodenal obstruction (DG), ileum obstruction (IG), left-dorsal colon obstruction (MG), and control group (CG). Peritoneal liquid was sampled before obtruction (T0), with 3 hours of obstruction (T3) and 6, 30, 102 and 174 hours after desobstructing (T6, T30, T102 and T174, respectively). Total protein levels were determined by the biuret method and protein fractions were obtained by SDS-PAGE electrophoresis. The acute phase proteins (APP) identified were Immunoglobulin-A, ceruloplasmin, transferrin, albumin, α1-antitrypsin, heavy and light chains of immunoglobulin-G, haptoglobin, α1-acid glycoprotein and a still unnamed protein, which was called P24. There was no difference (P>0.3) in protein levels among groups, although a significant difference (P>0.05) was observed between distinct experimental moments in each group evidencing a higher response of the APP in the obstructed groups. The APP fractioning of the peritoneal liquid was standardized to establish a standard curve for healthy equines and those submitted to induced intestinal obstruction. Moreover, it was verified that the SDS-PAGE electrophoresis was sensitive and effective to help diagnose abdominal inflammatory processes...

Na cólica equina, os estágios iniciais da inflamação incluem alterações denominadas resposta de fase aguda. O objetivo deste estudo foi contribuir para o estabelecimento de valores de referência do proteinograma do líquido peritoneal de equinos hígidos e daqueles submetidos à obstrução intestinal experimental. Vinte e um animais foram distribuídos nos grupos: obstrução de duodeno (GD), íleo (GI), cólon dorsal esquerdo (GM) e controle instrumentado (GC). As colheitas das amostras de líquido peritoneal foram realizadas antes (T0), durante as obstruções (T3) e após as desobstruções (T6, T30, T102 e T174 horas). A proteína total foi determinada pelo método do biureto, e as frações proteicas obtidas por eletroforese em SDS-PAGE. Identificaram-se as proteínas de fase aguda (PFA): IgA, ceruloplasmina, transferrina, albumina, α1-antitripsina, cadeias pesada e leve de imunoglobulina-G, haptoglobina, alfa-1-glicoproteína ácida e uma proteína nominalmente não identificada, que foi chamada P24. Não houve diferença (P>0.3) nas concentrações proteicas entre os grupos, somente entre tempos dentro de cada grupo (P>0.05), evidenciando uma resposta maior das PFA dos grupos obstruídos. O fracionamento eletroforético das PFA, presentes no líquido peritoneal, foi padronizado de modo a estabelecer a curva-padrão para equinos hígidos e para aqueles submetidos à obstrução intestinal; ademais, verificou-se que o referido fracionamento proteico mostrou-se sensível e eficaz no auxílio ao diagnóstico de processos inflamatórios abdominais...

Resposta humoral de bovinos vacinados contra as toxinas botulínicas tipos c e dem diferentes faixas etárias / Humoral response of vaccinated cattle against toxins of Clostridium botulinum types c and d at different ages

Foi verificada pelo teste de ELISA indireto a resposta humoral contra os toxoides botulínicos C e D em bovinos de diferentes idades. O estudo envolveu 90 animais, que foram divididos em três grupos (n = 30), de acordo com a sua faixa etária; inferior a 2 anos de idade (G1), entre 2 e 5 anos (G2) e superior a 5 anos (G3). Os grupos experimentais foram vacinados com duas doses de vacina antibotulínica bivalente (C e D) comercial, nos dias 0 e 42 após a primo-vacinação (booster). Na avaliação, quando realizada 30 dias após o booster, os animais do G3 apresentaram maior produção de anticorpos (p < 0,05) em relação aos demais grupos. Entre o G1 e G2 não houve diferença significativa na resposta humoral contra a toxina C, no entanto, contra a toxina D, os animais do G1 apresentaram maior produção de anticorpos. Todos os grupos produziram uma resposta significativa de anticorpos contra as toxinas botulínicas após a 2ª dose da vacina bivalente comercial, principalmente contra o tipo D.

Humoral response of vaccinated cattle against toxins of clostridium botulinum types C and D at different ages. Cattle humoral response against type C and D botulinum toxoids (indirect ELISA) was verified in animals of different ages. The animals (n = 90) were divided in three groups (n = 30): group one (G1): less than two years old; group two (G2): from 2 to 5 years old; group three (G3): more than 5 years old. The groups were vaccinated with two doses [0 and 42 days after primary vaccination (booster)] of bivalent (C and D) antibotulinum vaccine. Group three had higher antibody production (p ≤ 0.05) compared to the other groups, 30 days after the booster. There was no difference (G1 and G2; p ≥ 0.05) in the humoral response against C toxin, however, against D toxin, group one had higher antibody production. It was possible to conclude that after two doses of the commercial bivalent vaccine all groups produced a significant antibody response against botulinum toxins, especially against D type.

Pain pressure threshold algometry of the abdominal wall in healthy women

The objective of this study was to determine the inter- and intra-examiner reliability of pain pressure threshold algometry at various points of the abdominal wall of healthy women. Twenty-one healthy women in menacme with a mean age of 28 ± 5.4 years (range: 19-39 years) were included. All volunteers had regular menstrual cycles (27-33 days) and were right-handed and, to the best of our knowledge, none were taking medications at the time of testing. Women with a diagnosis of depression, anxiety or other mood disturbances were excluded. Women with previous abdominal surgery, any pain condition or any evidence of inflammation, hypertension, smoking, alcoholism, or inflammatory disease were also excluded. Pain perception thresholds were assessed with a pressure algometer with digital traction and compression and a measuring capacity for 5 kg. All points were localized by palpation and marked with a felt-tipped pen and each individual was evaluated over a period of 2 days in two consecutive sessions, each session consisting of a set of 14 point measurements repeated twice by two examiners in random sequence. There was no statistically significant difference in the mean pain threshold obtained by the two examiners on 2 diferent days (examiner A: P = 1.00; examiner B: P = 0.75; Wilcoxon matched pairs test). There was excellent/good agreement between examiners for all days and all points. Our results have established baseline values to which future researchers will be able to refer. They show that pressure algometry is a reliable measure for pain perception in the abdominal wall of healthy women.

Gender differences in serum CK-MB mass levels in healthy Braziliansubjects

The creatine kinase-isoenzyme MB (CK-MB) mass assay is one of the laboratory tests used for the diagnosis of myocardial infarction. It is recommended, however, that reference limits should take gender and race into account. In the present study, we analyzed the plasma CK-MB mass and troponin levels of 244 healthy volunteers without a personal history of coronary artery disease and with no chronic diseases, muscular trauma or hypothyroidism, and not taking statins. The tests were performed with commercial kits, CK-MB mass turbo kit and Troponin I turbo kit, using the Immulite 1000 analyzer from Siemens Healthcare Diagnostic. The values were separated according to gender and showed significant differences by the Mann-Whitney test. Mean (± SD) CK-MB mass values were 2.55 ± 1.09 for women (N = 121; age = 41.20 ± 10.13 years) and 3.49 ± 1.41 ng/mL for men (N = 123; age = 38.16 ± 11.12 years). Gender-specific reference values at the 99th percentile level, according to the Medicalc statistical software, were 5.40 ng/mL for women and 7.13 ng/mL for men. The influence of race was not considered because of the high miscegenation of the Brazilian population. The CK-MB values obtained were higher than the 5.10 mg/mL proposed by the manufacturer of the laboratory kit. Therefore, decision limits should be related to population and gender in order to improve the specificity of this diagnostic tool, avoiding misclassification of patients.

Criptococose diagnosticada por imprints de lesões em mucosa oral em cão / Cryptococcosis diagnosed by imprints of oral mucosa lesions in dog

The present report provides a cryptococcosis case affecting a Poodle dog that primarily presented the disease in its cutaneous form, but rapidly evolved to neurologic form and subsequent death. The clinical-pathological diagnosis was established by the examination of cytologic preparations obtained through fine needle cytological aspiration (FNCA) from cutaneous nodules and by imprints of ulcerative lesions presented at the oral cavity. Thus, this case report showed the importance of using other clinical-laboratorial diagnostic methods for cryptococcosis, especially of those preparations obtained from imprints of mucocutaneous ulcerative lesions.

Neonatal immune response of Brazilian beef cattle to vaccination with clostridium botulinum toxoids types C and D by indirect ELISA

Types C and D strains of Clostridium botulinum are commonly related to avian and mammalian botulism. Although there are numerous vaccine recommendations, little research has been conducted to indicate the real effectiveness of vaccine timing or the ideal immunization protocol for young beef calves. Four commercially available vaccines, two bivalent (Clostridium botulinum types C and D; vaccines 1 and 2) and two polyvalent (all Clostridium spp. including Clostridium botulinum types C and D; vaccines 3 and 4), that are currently used in Brazilian herds, were tested in order to verify the maternal immune response. One hundred cows, divided into four vaccinated groups and one unvaccinated group, were given a two-dose subcutaneous immunization, at day zero, followed by a second dose given at 42 days post-vaccination, which corresponded to 40 days before birth. Serum samples (n = 75) were collected only from healthy neonatal calves at 0, 7, 45 and 90 days post-calving (DPC) and subjected to indirect ELISA using the purified C and D holotoxins as capture antigens. The serological profile showed that all vaccines were able to induce a satisfactory neonatal immune response to both holotoxins at 7 DPC. However, at 45 and 90 DPC, a significant reduction (p < 0.05) was observed in the antibody level against C and D holotoxins in all tested vaccines. Neonatal immunization in calves is compromised by significant levels of maternal antibodies so that the necessity of planning a calf vaccination program involves assessment of disease risks at the production site. Finally, our findings represent the first demonstration of maternal immunity transferred to neonatal beef calves, including immunity levels after vaccination against Clostridium botulinum toxoids C and D.

Características celulares e bioquímicas do líquido peritoneal de equinos submetidos à obstrução experimental do duodeno, íleo e cólon maior / Cellular and biochemical characteristics of peritoneal fluid of equines submitted to experimental obstruction of duodenum, ileum, and large colon

Estudaram-se as características macroscópicas, bioquímicas e citológicas do líquido peritoneal de equinos submetidos a um modelo experimental de obstrução intestinal em 24 animais, distribuídos em grupos: de controle instrumentado (GI), de obstrução do duodeno (GII), de obstrução do íleo (GIII) e de obstrução do cólon maior (GIV). As amostras de líquido peritoneal foram colhidas antes da cirurgia (T0), durante as obstruções (T60i-T180i) e após as desobstruções (T60ri-T7º ). Durante o período obstrutivo, não foram observadas alterações significativas nos parâmetros bioquímicos e citológicos avaliados no líquido peritoneal dos animais. Após as desobstruções, apenas os animais de GII e GIII apresentaram resposta inflamatória mais intensa, caracterizada por maior contagem global e diferencial de leucócitos e dos valores de proteína total, fibrinogênio, lactato e fósforo inorgânico. As alterações laboratoriais não foram associadas a sinais clínicos indicativos da presença de processo inflamatório abdominal, demonstrando que os resultados da análise do líquido peritoneal, apesar de auxiliarem no acompanhamento da evolução do processo de cura, não devem ser utilizados isoladamente na elaboração do diagnóstico e do prognóstico de complicações no pós-operatório de equinos com cólica.

The macroscopic, biochemical, and cytological characteristics of peritoneal fluid of equines submitted to intestinal obstruction using an experimental model were evaluated. Twenty-four animals were distributed in four groups: instrumented control (GI), duodenum obstruction (GII), ileum obstruction (GIII), and large colon obstruction (GIV). Peritoneal fluid samples were collected before the surgery (T0), during the obstruction (T60i-T180i), and after unblocking procedures (T60ri-T7º ). During obstructive period, significant alterations were not observed in biochemical and cytological examination of peritoneal fluid of all animals. After unblocking procedure, animals from GII and GIII presented intense inflammatory response characterized by higher global and differential leukocytes counts, as well as in fibrinogen and total protein concentrations; lactate and inorganic phosphorus concentrations in peritoneal fluid were also increased. The laboratory alterations were not associated with clinical signs, indicative of the abdominal inflammatory process presence. Results showed that analyses of peritoneal fluids can be used as support in the evolution of healing process. However, they can not be isolated used for a diagnosis and prognosis of equine postoperative complications.

Soroprevalência de Maedi-Visna em ovinos na região de Araçatuba, SP / Occurrence of Maedi-visna in sheep from Araçatuba region - SP - Brazil

The seroprevalence of Maedi-Visna in sheep from Araçatuba region - SP, was determined and correlated to age, gender, breed, or sheep production systems. Blood samples were collected from 444 sheep, aging from two to 12 year-old. Both sexes and different breeds were sampled in 20 farms of this region. Physical examination was performed in all animals. Agar gel immunodiffusion test kit was used to diagnose in serum samples. Twelve animals, from five different farms, were AGID positive, yielding a seroprevalence of 2.7%, with no correlation among breed, gender, or sheep production systems and the detection of the disease. No animal considered positive for Maedi-Visna showed clinical signs compatible with Maedi-Visna.

Causa inusitada de Insuficiência Renal Aguda: relato de caso / A catastrophic cause of acute renal failure: case report

É relatado o quadro clínico de paciente feminino, com 39 anos de idade, que desenvolveu falência renal aguda devido à oclusão aórtica suprarrenal. Houve necessidade de uso de método dialítico e evolução com cronicidade da lesão renal.

This is a case report of a female adult patient (39 years old), smoker, who developed acute renal failure after aortic thrombosis.

A Bayesian approach to estimate the accuracy of "in-house" ELISA assay to measure rabies antibodies from compulsory vaccinated dogs and cattle

Rabies is a vaccine-preventable disease that causes acute encephalitis in mammals, and it is still a significant public health problem in numerous countries. lnfected dogs represent the main vectors involved in human rabies. Additionally, cattle rearing close to geographic areas where vampire bats are found presents an important connection with rural epidemiology. We applied two "in-house" enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) methodologies, considered alternatives to measure antibodies from vaccinated dogs and cattle, without employing the gold standard approach. The ELISA assays were performed on individual serum samples taken from domestic adult dogs and cows compulsory vaccinated against rabies (147 urban dogs and 64 cows; n equal 211). The sandwich and liquid-phase competitive ELISA (scELlSA and ipcELlSA). considered "in-house" assays. were performed according to previous works. The only statistical methodology that allows this study is the Bayesian approach, developed to replace the conventional Hui-Walter paradigm. For conditional independent Bayesian model (one population, two tests and no gold standard) the prior information for sensitivity and specificity of each test, mode, prevalence and transformed (alpha, beta) were submitted to Bayesian inference. The "in-house" IpcELISA revealed 16 - out of 261 serum samples - negative results, whereas in scELISA all results were positive. The Bayesian approach showed that prior information was specified for all parameters; posterior medians were SescELISA 89%, SpscELISA 88%, SPipcELISA 95% SeipcELISA 98%, and prevalence (pi) of 99%, without the use of gold standard analysis to measure specific anti-rabies antibodies

The association of ACE gene D/I polymorphism with cardiovascular risk factors in a population from Rio de Janeiro

Our aim was to determine the frequencies of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene alleles D and I and any associations to cardiovascular risk factors in a population sample from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Eighty-four adults were selected consecutively during a 6-month period from a cohort subgroup of a previous large cross-sectional survey in Rio de Janeiro. Anthropometric data and blood pressure measurements, echocardiogram, albuminuria, glycemia, lipid profile, and ACE genotype and serum enzyme activity were determined. The frequency of the ACE*D and I alleles in the population under study, determined by PCR, was 0.59 and 0.41, respectively, and the frequencies of the DD, DI, and II genotypes were 0.33, 0.51, and 0.16, respectively. No association between hypertension and genotype was detected using the Kruskal-Wallis method. Mean plasma ACE activity (U/mL) in the DD (N = 28), DI (N = 45) and II (N = 13) groups was 43 (in males) and 52 (in females), 37 and 39, and 22 and 27, respectively; mean microalbuminuria (mg/dL) was 1.41 and 1.6, 0.85 and 0.9, and 0.6 and 0.63, respectively; mean HDL cholesterol (mg/dL) was 40 and 43, 37 and 45, and 41 and 49, respectively, and mean glucose (mg/dL) was 93 and 108, 107 and 98, and 85 and 124, respectively. A high level of ACE activity and albuminuria, and a low level of HDL cholesterol and glucose, were found to be associated with the DD genotype. Finally, the II genotype was found to be associated with variables related to glucose intolerance.

Avaliação do aprendizado de pacientes com doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica em um programa de reabilitação pulmonar / Evaluation of learning in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease during a pulmonary rehabilitation program

INTRODUÇÃO: Os pacientes que realizam um programa de reabilitação pulmonar participam, também, de um programa educativo com aulas expositivas abordando assuntos referentes à sua doença e ao tratamento. Esse programa visa levar o conhecimento necessário para que o paciente possa lidar com a doença e suas repercussões. OBJETIVO: Avaliar se o programa educativo aplicado aos pacientes submetidos a reabilitação pulmonar tem resultados efetivos no aprendizado dos mesmos. CASUíSTICA E MÉTODO: Estudo prospectivo, envolvendo 22 pacientes que se submeteram a um programa de reabilitação pulmonar, com idade 63 (DP ± 11,8). Inicialmente foi aplicado um questionário desenvolvido e validado pelo Centro de Reabilitação Pulmonar da UNIFESP/LESF para avaliar o conhecimento da doença pré e pós-intervenção do programa educacional. Os pacientes foram divididos em dois grupos: um grupo com programa educativo e um grupo controle (sem programa educativo). O grupo educativo respondeu ao questionário duas vezes, pré e pós-programa, já o grupo controle respondeu ao questionário apenas uma vez. RESULTADOS: Os pacientes que foram submetidos ao programa educativo apresentaram aumento no percentual de respostas corretas quando comparados o pré e o pós-intervenção, 69 por cento e 84 por cento respectivamente, e uma diminuição na porcentagem de erros quando comparados o pré e o pós-intervenção, 20 por cento e 14 por cento respectivamente. CONCLUSÃO: O programa educativo aplicado aos pacientes do programa de reabilitação pulmonar mostrou-se efetivo, pois aumentou o conhecimento dos pacientes no que se refere à doença, suas conseqüências e seu tratamento.

BACKGROUND: Patients who undergo pulmonary rehabilitation programs also participate in an educational program with classes covering matters related to their disease and treatment. Such programs aim to provide patients with the knowledge needed for them to be able to deal with their disease and its repercussions. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether the educational program applied to patients undergoing pulmonary rehabilitation has effective results regarding their learning. METHOD:This was a prospective study involving 22 patients who underwent a pulmonary rehabilitation program. Their mean age was 63 years (SD ± 11.8). Initially, a questionnaire developed and validated by the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Center of UNIFESP/LESF was applied to evaluate the patients' knowledge about the disease before and after the educational intervention. The patients were divided into two groups: one with the educational program and the other serving as a control group (no educational program). The educational program group answered the questionnaire twice (before and after the intervention), and the control group answered only once. RESULTS:The patients who underwent the educational program presented an increase in the percentage of correct answers, from before to after the intervention (69 percent versus 84 percent, respectively), and a decrease in the percentage of mistakes, from before to after the intervention (20 percent versus 14 percent, respectively). CONCLUSION: The educational program applied to patients in the pulmonary rehabilitation program was effective to increase the patients' knowledge about their disease, its consequences and its treatment.

Abundance and diversity of resistance genes in the sugarcane transcriptome revealed by in silico analysis

Resistance genes (R-genes) are responsible for the first interaction of the plant with pathogens being responsible for the activation (or not) of the defense response. Despite their importance and abundance, no tools for their automatic annotation are available yet. The present study analyzed R-genes in the sugarcane expressed sequence tags database which includes 26 libraries of different tissues and development stages comprising 237,954 expressed sequence tags. A new annotation routine was used in order to avoid redundancies and overestimation of R-gene number, common mistakes in previous evaluations. After in silico screening, 280 R-genes were identified, with 196 bearing the complete domains expected. Regarding the alignments, most of the sugarcane’s clusters yielded best matches with proteins from Oryza sativa, probably due to the prevalence of sequences of this monocot in data banks. All R-gene classes were found except the subclass LRR-NBS-TIR (leucine-rich repeats, nucleotide-binding site, including Toll interleukin-1 receptors), with prevalence of the kinase (Pto-like) class. R-genes were expressed in all libraries, but flowers, transition root to shoot, and roots were the most representative, suggesting that in sugarcane the expression of R-genes in non-induced conditions prevails in these tissues. In leaves, only low level of expression was found for some gene classes, while others were completely absent. A high allelic diversity was found in all classes of R-genes, sometimes showing best alignments with dicotyledons, despite the great number of genes from rice, maize and other grasses deposited in data banks. The results and future possibilities regarding R-genes in sugarcane research and breeding are further discussed.